University of Toledo In Contract with Abortion Clinic

March 26, 2013

Publicly Funded College Supports Local Abortion Clinic

Today Ohio Right to Life released the findings of its investigation into University of Toledo's support of Capital Care Network of Toledo, one of the largest abortion clinics in Northwest Ohio. According to government documents obtained by Ohio Right to Life, the University of Toledo Medical Center has entered into a contract with this abortion clinic to allow the clinic to operate and to abort children. A transfer agreement signed by the University's Senior Vice President and Executive Director Scott Scarborough on Aug. 17, 2012, is the reason the abortion clinic remains open.

According to the most recent data from the Ohio Department of Health, 1,033 babies were aborted at Capital Care Network of Toledo due to the University's support of this clinic.

"The only reason Capital Care exists is because of the publicly-funded University of Toledo. Without this transfer agreement, this abortion clinic could not legally operate in Ohio," said Ohio Right to Life's Executive Director, Rev. John Coats. "This violates the conscience rights of Ohio taxpayers as well as pro-life faculty, staff and students. Ohio law clearly prohibits state tax dollars from paying for abortion and it is against the law for publicly funded hospitals to perform non-therapeutic abortions. Yet the University of Toledo circumvented our pro-life laws and the spirit of our public policy by entering into this transfer agreement," said Coats.

According to Ohio law, Capital Care exists as an Ambulatory Surgical Facility and because of this status, the clinic is not a full-service medical facility. In order for Capital Care Network of Toledo to operate legally, the clinic has to have a transfer agreement with a full-service hospital to handle all cases of abortion complications against the mother. The University of Toledo has signed this agreement to allow this abortion clinic to remain open.

Ohio Right to Life is actively working with State Representative Lynn Wachtmann to introduce legislation to ban transfer agreements between tax-funded, public hospitals and abortion clinics in Ohio.

Toledo Right to Life's Executive Director Ed Sitter said, "The University of Toledo is the last place abortion clinics should be allowed to rely on in our community. This is a black eye for the University and their pro-life alumni should express their concern. Toledo Right to Life looks forward to passionately advocating for this legislation and we thank Rep. Wachtmann for his leadership."